Kai Uchacz (centre) celebrates his empty net goal with 3.6 seconds remaining in the third period. (CHL TV)

By Jordan Davidson (Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow)

1-1 on the season

Rebels win home opener

Oct 2, 2021 | 10:31 PM

After dropping the regular season opener 4-1 in Edmonton Friday night, the Red Deer Rebels paid the Oil Kings back in kind by defeating them 4-1 in their home opener Saturday night inside the Peavey Mart Centrium.

The Rebels wasted little time getting on the clock, as Blake Gustafson fired a shot past Oil Kings goalie Sebastian Cossa 1:22 into the first period for the strong, early start they were hoping for.

Red Deer had a couple power play chances after that but were unable to capitalize, finishing the first period up 1-0.

The second period started with both teams equal in shots and effort until over seven minutes into the period. A weird hop behind the Rebels net popped the puck out front, where Oil Kings centre Jakub Demek was waiting. He pushed one passed an unsuspecting Rebels goalie Chase Coward to score the power play goal and even things up at one.

A fight between Rebel Jayden Grubbe and Oil King Simon Kubicek behind Edmonton’s goal halfway through the period turned up the tension in the game. A hit on Rebels player Kyle Masters had more players coming together for a scuffle which resulted in the Rebels getting a 4-on-3 power play for 50 seconds.

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And the Rebels took advantage, with Ben King scoring his second goal in as many games to put the Rebels up by one.

Edmonton came out hard in the third, outshooting the Rebels 11-3 for over half the period, but they were unable to get past Rebels goalie Coward.

The Oil Kings pulled their goalie with two minutes remaining in the period, but the Rebel’s Jhett Larson was able to break away out of his own end and score an empty netter to put Red Deer ahead 3-1.

That wasn’t the end of empty net goals for the Rebels, as Kai Uchacz got one of his own with only 3.6 seconds remaining in the game.

The Oil Kings outshot the Rebels 33-28, and each team was able to score on one power play opportunity. Red Deer won 38 face-offs to Edmonton’s 31, while Rebels goalie Chase Coward stopped 32 of 33 shots, to the Oil Kings tender Sebastian Cossa’s 24 out of 26 shots.

Rebels next game is on Tuesday, Oct. 5^th in Swift Current against the Broncos. Next home game will be Friday, Oct.8 when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers. Tickets are available at ticketsalberta.com.